Job Cuts At Volunteers Of America

Job cuts will be made by the end of the week at one of Sioux Falls' largest non-profits.

Volunteers of America started notifying employees of the company's plans to restructure Tuesday night. It’s a move that will ultimately leave some without a job.

Two percent of Volunteers of America's workforce will no longer have jobs come Friday. VOA is a private non-profit organization employing nearly 500 people in Sioux Falls.

"It's something that all private non-profits will need to continue to look at based on reimbursement rates and just the overall economy," Volunteers of America director of education and residential services Brian Riedel said.

Riedel says decreasing state and federal reimbursements for more than three years now have caused VOA's board of directors to ask for more cost efficiencies.

VOA operates several childcare facilities around town. However, Riedel says parents should not worry because very few direct service positions are part of the cut.

"I think we're looking at all areas, the administrative level, as well as across all of our programs, management and other positions within the organization," Riedel said.

Riedel says clients will not see a change in the quality or level of service following the restructuring.

Ten to 12 positions are expected to be eliminated. However, VOA is offering those employees the opportunity to apply for other open positions within the organization.